Friction clutch



l Aug. 2 1, 1923.

H, A. sMsTH ET AL FRIGTION CLUTCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 24, 1921lll Aug. 21,1 1923.4

1 1,465,492 H. A. SMITH ET AL FRICTION CLUTCH Filed Jan'. 24. 1921 2sheets-'sheet 2 T 0 all whom/t may concern v Patented Aug. Z1, 1923.

Darren stares attain Y @Pimm-mm.;

HARVEY A. SMITH, WILLIAM LE GENDRE, AND BEIIJAMIN IIAnBIsoIg,oncINcIN lNATI, OHIO; SAID SMITH AssIeNoB. YTo sAID LGENDBE.'

FiaIcrIoN. CLUTCH. Y

Applicationflied January zeigen .,seinintgisaeay VBe it known thaty We,HARVEY A. SMITH, WILLIAM Ln GENDRE, and BENJAMIN- H.

HAnnIsoN, citizens of Vthe United States, re-

siding at No. 8580liver St., No. 1122 Rosemont Aye.,vand .1610 DudleySt., respectively, in the countyof Hamilton andState of Ohio, haveinvented certain new-and usefulflmf V.proveniente in'Friotion 1Clutches, of "yvh-ich the following is Va 4specilication'. Y u

Our inventionrelates tov Afriction Vclutches operating by the use of anexpanslble ring;

VHer'etofore it has been the ipractice to'jem'ploy Y split expansiblerings machined onVv allsuI'-,

aces. It is, -ivell known'that certain metals, such as cast'iron, steel,and semi-steel havekv a certain eXibility-in their` rough cast formlWithout further treatment. The machining* operation, lio-Wever, removesthe scal e,`^a'ndl thereforeV the metal'loses, itsresiliency Theinherent resiliency Iin 4the `rough casting is. V due entirely Vto althin layerof hard sub.-V

stance, on the outside of the casting termed the scale.V The loss ofvresiliency vin the' eX;- pansiblering causes a clutch to continuetogripafter the expanding elementhasbeen released, thus continuing todrive the mier` s chine and endanger the hands and'f/ngers Vforming itsproper function entirely.

ofthe vWorkman or Spoil the Work. This ac` tion tendstorquickly"Wea'r'out'the friction ring fand its vmating element. As avrfeSu'ltl only fa'partia'l seizing *takes place after the Vclutch hasbeen in ,servicefor a short time, the friction surfaces becoming soroughened and cut'as to prevent the clutch Vfrom,

Perf' y l It is the object of our invention to provide a clutch ofextremely strong and durable conf struction, and further-to provideasplit ring` having all theadvantagesfas relating'to accuracyof acompletely machined" ring, and yet at the same time retain all theadvantages of a rough' castingwitli a'scale thereon.V

Also to 'provide a frictionring that will have unusual grippingqualities, and at the same time retaining great resiliency, thuscompelling the ring to pull away from the driving member by Vits ownaction WhenV the spreading' elementis Withdrawn.

Our invention consists inthemechanism` and details of constructionhereinafterV described, claimed fand illustrated `the :drawings in which.Fia l is a perspective view di Qur evee tion," its' Construction; vI

partly brblren etterj .f 4 ig; die aV vertical crossv section'tfgken ina F1 5 A Y .1 'l '7 r 1g.- 5` is a. longitudinal vertical sectionn takenVvInga plane correspondinggto the'wlinel #site rig. .2

Fig. k6 is an, enlargedvros's Section" .broken away, illustrating :the:A'iethodfff'ofi'j l spreading the l friction "ring, and'y taken vin aplane 'corresponding. to theV line plane Y' corresponding to lineV'fl-.f4 of Fig. .71S a; ,perspectiveviev.ffthafictiea ung-5' i i Fg f8ViS aperspegctive'vievv ofthe 'spread-3 K .ing member'forspreadingthefrictionring;.

of the, gilding 'Y Fig. 9v-is a'perspectiyey'ietv Y Wedge vforopera-ting the -roclrablefarm- ,e

Loosejpulleyi has@ bearing@ lbtarfj] shaft `1,7. -Th'e bearing may befofthjefusual construction, employingV unveil Weurlggagnd eek the usualfilling plugl).VV` A collar 20 on the prevents end-Wise movement?of,theloose to as the driving "'IneInbeI.v

pulley. The'pulleyj Y is 'hereinaAfter'V referred A' lriven member 22Aenrip'risesa VWeld-24 ra'bore4 2G inthe yhub 25h The driven ,member 1ssecured against lrotaryniovementon. the

.shaftvvas by a key 27 secured Yinfa-l;eyseat,28 11i the shaft. Thelcyis adaptedjtcgco-act `andiaf'hub 25.l The shaft :17 paseee through' withal@ keywayea eritema ,i 'Titeldaten Il resilient ring ',315 v about ahollow hub 36 integrally formed `with u the lively-24.' The frictionringandthe'liol-l Y loivf'hub are received Yin. `ay cylindriealbore ,37

of the driving member, liav'inginternal Vfrictionvcontact surface 38.The'vveb 39` of the driving memberfformsf'the end -W'Vall of the bore,effectively preventingftlieringrees i foreign matter into ythe clutch.Afr-,lheiriction ring. is heldl against endvvsemoyementby the- Ycircular flange 4:0 formed on hei driven :rinenri-4 ber. y. Y l.

The friction ring is so formed as to retain the greatest pnrtion ofthe'scalegon the internal surface of the ring, and also sufficient ofthe scale on the external surface of rthe ring rupted .by rough .ScalevgrOOveS-i T0 nel mit of expansion under pressure, the ring is split by aslot 47. When the ring is not in expanded relation, a space '50 isformed between the rictionpads vand the internal v friction surface 38of the driving member.

, rock-shaft de journaledin a bearing 61 y' surface 92 of vthe slidablehub.

lso

For expanding 'the ring, provide an expanding member 51, v.comprising awedge 52, having rounded expanding;surfaces ,53 adapted to contact theangular sur-faces -54 formed on the walls of the slot 47. "The wedge.)lis received vin a groove 55 on the hollow hub 36. A lshank j56integrally f formed with the wedge 52 has-movement V en'dwisein a'hole57'in the hollow hub. A

inthe web ofthe Vdrivenme-mben'andhas an operating arm 62 securedVthereon by a pin 63. The operatingarm has `a contact surface 64 on theouter end thereof'for contacting a Yrounded end 65 'on the shank 56. Arockalole arm 66' is adjustably secured on the other end Aof the rockshaft by a set screw 6T received in a 1threaded holev 68.

An endwise slidable hubfQ, having a bore 7 3 therein, vis mounted on theshaft adjacent the driven member.

The hub is held against rotary movement on the shaft'by a keywayMme-acting with the key 27. A usual fork 'T5 secured to a usual shifterrod76 by a setscrew 77 has tangs 78 received in circular' groove S6,formed by the flanges 61 on the endwise slidable hub. The usual type ofshifterglef ver may beattached to the shifter rod and is not hereinillustrated'becaus'e well known. A wedge member 'is secured to theendwise vslidable hub by a bolt 86 passing through a hole 87 therein andthreaded'into a'threaded hole 8S in the hub. TheV wedge member is morefirmly. secured to the hub as by yhaving a rib 89 integrallyfiormedthere.- with, received in a circular groove 90 in the hub, anda rib -91integrally formed therewith adapted to be received against the end Thisconstruction securely holds the wedge member against lateral movement.

4*The wedge lmember `further has a laterally extending -end Vportion 93,having an inclinedsurface 94 on the upper side thereof, and a planebearing surface `95 on the under side-thereof, adapted to co-act with apla-ne surface l96 Yon the hub 25. A fiat horizontal surface 97 on theupper side of `formsa ready means for adjusting the same.

The rounded head on the adjusting screw izo-'acts with inclined surface94 to actu'ate the rockable arm. AIn the movement of the rockable arm,

rounded head '103 of the adjusting screw Y follows a circular path,andtlierefore'has a jlateral movement in relation to the wedge member.The end portion of the wedge member with .the inclinedsur'face thereon,therefore preferably extendsin a lateral d1.- Y motion awuyV from therookable erm.. he

relative lateralVv movement between the head .Qn the adjusting Screw andthe inclined .sur-

k face is vthus compensated ffor.`

ln operati-on, the shifter 10d76 is' .moved by ythev usual 'formv ofjshifterhllldle ',(not shown),ca rrying ywith it Ithe Vshifter fork 75,thusmovingthe en'dwise sljidab'lehub 72 and the wedge member toward thedriven member 22." YThe movement olfv the wed-ge .Supported by the planeSurface 961.011 the hub 25., tor-ces thel'ookable arm' outward throughthe medium of the rounded 'head `103, contacting thejnclined surface`94. 'The rock shaft 60 is thus rocked, `forcing the operating arm 62with its cont-act surface 64 against the rounded end 65V of' the shank56 cn Vthe spreading memberl. The `spreading surfaces53 contact themgu'larV surfaces 54 ori/ the friction ring, forcing 'the ends outwardand expanding the ring. iriction pads 45 on the ring are forced intocontact with the frictionsurface A'38 or" the driving member, withterrific pressure, 'formi`-nga practically rigid unit -olf the drivenand driving members. The Vfriction ring is' causedn to Vrotate with the.driven member bythe wedge member 52 received in the groove 55 acting asa driving key. The rounded end 103 of the 4screwlOO'in the rockablearmis so adjusted as to come to rest on the Ahorizontal flat surface 97,thus preventing the unintentional disengagement of the clutch.v i

V "When the clutch is disengagedjby pulling the wedge from under therockable arm, the inherent spring tendencies in the resilient ringpullthe friction pads 45Ya-way 'from the friction surface 3 8 onthedriving memberV andxclose ,it about the hub '36. This ac tion bringsthe angular surfaces V54 toward eachother', fforcing the spreadingmember 5 1 downward, which in turn l'orcfes the `loperating varm androckable Varm on the rockshaft f towar'd the hub of the driven member.

`lt is obvious that by our improved construction absolutely nocontaot'of the fric- Thus the tion ring is had with the driving member,when the clutch is disengaged, thus avoiding all Aundue wear, andprolonging the life of the clutch, The resilient tendency of the ring toclose holds it firmly about the hollow hub of the driven member, andprevents all rattle and noise. Y

i/Vhat we claim as new and desire to' secure by Letters Patent is: f 1.In a friction clutch, a friction ring, the said friction ring" beingsevered at a point on its circumference by 'a slot, machined frictionpads on the outside oflsaid ring, non-machined rough grooves betweensaid pads, machined pads on the inner sur-` face of said ring, andnon-machined rough surfaces between said -pads on the inner surface `ofsaid ring, whereby the natural resiliency is retained. Y

2. In a friction clutch, a shaft, a driving member journaled on saidshaft, a driven member secured to said shaft, said driven membercomprising a hub, a web on said Y hub, and a hollowhub on said web, afriction ring received about said hollowhub, said ring severed at Yonepoint by a slot,'non-L machined surfaces on said ring whereby itV iscaused to resiliently close about said lhollow hub, machined surfacesinterrupting said non-machined surfaces to form contact with said hollowhub, angular surfaces formed on walls of said slot, a spreading memberhaving radial movements in said hollow hub, comprising a "wedge adaptedto co-act with said angular surfaces on said ring, a shank on saidwedge, and a bearing for said shank in said hollowv hub, and means forcausing the radi-al movement of said spreading member.v Y

V3.V In a friction clutch, a shaft,`a driving member journaled on saidshaft, a drivenV member secured on said shaft, a friction ring receivedbetween the said driving mem-V ber and said driven member, machinedsurfaces on said friction ring, non-machined surfaces interrupting saidmachined surf faces, whereby some of said machined surfaces are normallycaused to closely contact s aid driven member, a spreading'meiiiber insaid driven member for spreading said ring and causing frictionalcontact with saidV driving member, a bearing in said driven member, andmeans for causing the radial movementof said spreading member com-`prising, a rock shaft journaled in saidbearing, an operating arm securedto. one end of said shaft adapted to form mechanicali connection withsaid spreading member, a

rockable arm adj ustably secured to the other end of said shaft, anadjusting screw in the outer end of said rockable arm, ai rounded headon said screw, and a movable wedge member adapted to contact the saidrounded head of said screw for causing the movement of the said rockablearm.

means for spreading said ring, actuating,V

means foi-*actuating said spreading means, a

hubl slidable endwise'onsaid shaft, said vhub having a' keywaythereinladapted toV co-act wthf'said keyin said shaft for causing ro--t-ationtherewith, 'a wedge member secured to said hub for causing the'movement of y/said operating means, a bolt in said hub for securingsaid wedge member thereto, a groove in said hub, a rib. on said wedgemember adapted to enterV said groove, an

end surface on said hub, Aand a second rib on'said wedge member adaptedto contact said end surface for fo-rming a rigid vsecuring meanstherefor.`

5. In a friction clutch', a driving pulley,

a shaft on which said driving pulley is journaled, a driven membersecured to said shaft, said driven member having a keyway therein, a hubVendwiseslidable on said shaft and having a keyway therein, a key insaid shaft adapted to co-act with said keywa-y in said hub and saidkeyway in said drivenmember for preventing relative Yrotary movementtherebetween, a friction ring for forming frictional driving connectionbetween said driven member kand said" driving member, a plurality ofmachined surfaces on said frictionY ring, a plurality of non-machinedsurfaces interrupting said; machined surfaces, meansv forA spreadingVsaid friction Vringto cause driving connection between said drivenmember and said driving member, actuating means for said spreadingmeans, andl an operating means secured toy said hub for operating saidractuating means. K Y

6. In a friction clutch, a shaft, a loose pulley journaled on saidshaft, said loose pulley having'a cylindrical bore therein, a

`friction surface on said cylindrical bore, a

driven member rotatable with said shaft,

.said driven member comprising a hub, having a keyway therein, a webformed on said hub, and a hollow hub formed on said web, a

friction ring received about saidhollow hub a circular flange formedonone end of said hollow hub forholdingsaid friction ring in place, saidfriction ring severed atV one pointl by'a slot, a spreading member forspreading said ring and comprising a wedge having spreading surfacesformed thereon adapted to co-act with the walls of said slot, a shank onsaid wedge, and a rounded `end on said shank, a bearing in said hollowhub in whichV said shank has radial movement, a rock Y shaft suitablymounted, an operating arm secured on one end of said rock shaft adapticaf ber `thereto, a rbon said -#Wedge vmember received in .v sedgrfooye, a@lane-'surface on said drlven member 1n fsubstantlal ahgnment Wlth4thebottom'surface of sald Wedgememf ber for forming a. supporttherefor, '1.a later-V ally projectngoend lportierL formed on said Wedgemember, an lnellned surface on sald l laterallyrprojectug end portionfor co-acting with said rounded Ibead on said adjust# y111g screw, and ahorlzontal .plane surface on said Wedge member adapted to receive saidrounded head of sald adjustngscrew Where- 20 by said rockable arm isheld in raised Vposition.

HARVEY A. SMITH. WILLIAM LE GENDRE.- BENJAMIN HARBIsoN.,

